Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea has eluded biosecurity nets and
has shown up on two hog farms in North Carolina.
As of June 24, Reuters news agency says there are 265
confirmed cases of the disease in 14 states.
Canadians and Mexicans are on high biosecurity alert for the
disease which is new to North America and can devastate piglets.
Mexico has banned all imports of U.S. hogs until it is
satisfied the outbreak has been brought under control. Canada has longstanding strict
and lengthy quarantine requirements for all hogs from the U.S.
This strain of the virus first showed up in China where it
killed more than one million pigs.
It has no impact on human health.